Whirlwind Recordings

Phoenix is the highly anticipated, expansive next album in the musical evolution of alto saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin, and first for Whirlwind Recordings. The album was produced by the multi-Grammy award winning Terri Lyne Carrington and featuring a star-studded line up of specially curated guests, Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, Angela Davis and Wayne Shorter. The band comprises trumpeter Josh Evans, Victor Gould on keys, Orange Rodriguez on synths, drummer Enoch (EJ) Strickland, percussionist Nêgah Santos and bassist Ivan Taylor. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr, Rhodes organist Anastassiya Petrova and bassist Jahmal Nichols all join for one track each. Phoenix is a deeply personal outing for Lakecia and presents mostly original compositions written throughout the seasons. “I was clear that this project was to feature women that I have looked up to my entire life who have a prominent place in jazz or in the community. I wrote each song around their skillset so they wouldn’t have to do anything but be themselves,” says Lakecia.